Letters to the editor | Wednesday, July 8, 2020: Plethora of Stanislaus COVID-19 missteps

Power couple’s wedding reeks of hypocrisy

Stanislaus County’s coronavirus numbers are so discouraging. Yesterday, we had 140 new reported cases, and our hospitals are stretched thin.

I’ve been trying to do everything possible to keep myself and others safe: staying home, social distancing, wearing a mask. I miss seeing my family and friends, especially my mom, but know it’s important that I do my part to help stanch the spread.

Somebody forwarded photographs from a wedding that took place in San Luis Obispo on June 27 with 40 or so guests cozying up with each other for group photos. The happy couple: Modesto Police Chief Galen Carroll and Stanislaus County Director of Communications Amy Vickery. The bride, groom and guests, including Modesto Councilmembers Doug Ridenour and Mani Grewal, didn’t seem to care at all that the world is gripped by a deadly pandemic, with a virus spread by asymptomatic carriers. There was no social distancing whatsoever. Only one person was wearing a mask.

It’s galling and disheartening to see how little regard these elected and appointed leaders have for our safety. They should be ashamed of themselves. As far as I’m concerned, not one of them deserves to be in any position of authority.

Lisa Battista, Modesto

Did she really say that?

Re: “Newsom’s shutdown order includes Stanislaus County” (Front Page, July 2): Kristen Olsen, president of the Board of Supervisors, is criticizing the order to close bars and restaurants saying that our hospitals have plenty of beds and ICU capacity at this time. In other words, it is more important for businesses to stay open even if that spreads COVID-19. We’ll just let the hospitals take care of the problem.

What she left unsaid is that our funeral homes also have plenty of capacity to handle the excess deaths.

Richard Kendrick, Modesto

Well yes, she did

Re: “Newsom’s shutdown order includes Stanislaus County” (Front Page, July 2): I feel that Kristin Olsen’s comment was very sensible. According to Olsen we have more than enough hospital beds. It seems that Olsen feels we should fill those beds before we do anything about the virus spreading.

Neal Gittleman, Sonora

She needs to go

Re: “Newsom’s shutdown order includes Stanislaus County” (Front Page, July 2): Kristin Olsen seems to have her head in the sand along with Trump and Pence. She actually said “the state’s premature because we have more than enough capacity in our hospitals to accommodate patients.” So the heck with the sick and dying, since we have plenty of room for them in our hospitals.

Where has she been? On the moon? She should be fired.

Pat Oliver, Modesto

Setting the wrong example

Stanislaus County is experiencing record high spread of coronavirus. Under California state mandate, youth sports aren’t allowed in the current phase of reopening. Rainbow Fields in Modesto was recently issued a cease-and-desist order for allowing a youth tournament. The city of Hughson posted signs saying the baseball fields were closed. Hughson employees told youth team coaches that the fields were closed, and were verbally harassed. What made these youth coaches think that using these facilities was OK?

Does anyone have any doubts about why we are the country with the highest rate of coronavirus in the world? We just don’t take this pandemic seriously and don’t want to do what it takes to get through it as quickly as possible. It also makes me wonder what kind of an example these type of coaches are setting for our kids.

Janet Little, Turlock

This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 4:00 AM.